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When visitors to the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, deep in the Guatemalan
rainforest, reported “a powerful presence in the blue skies above them” this
week, two explanations emerged. Either the sensation portended a change of
epoch, due tomorrow , which could mark the end of the world.

Or it was The Force. Tikal, which reached its zenith between the third and
tenth centuries, was a home to the ancient Mayas, whose Long Calendar has
given rise to prophesies of impending Armageddon. It was also featured in Star
Wars, where it was cast as Yavin 4, the planet from which Luke